What To Do in Beijing When It Rains: Seven Indoor Escapes
Thunderstorms are predicted for this weekend and much of next week, and it can be hard to make plans when you're not sure if the skies are about to open up and unleash their fury on you in a rainy downpour. But don't worry! A rainy day in Beijing doesn't mean just staying at home doom-scrolling all day; there are plenty of indoor activities you can keep yourself entertained with when those summer storms do hit.
We've put together a few of our top recommendations.
1. Embrace Your Inner Child With Indoor Entertainment
Indoor entertainment isn't just for kids! Beijing has a wide range of indoor entertainment options. Why not visit a bowling alley, climbing center, escape room, arcade, or trampoline park and try something new! There are also lots of malls and indoor amusement centers like VS Sports Park, which have all of the above housed in one complex. Search for “运动玩” yùndòng wán (sports play) on Dianping, and you should see a range of options.
2. Get Cultured at a Museum
Take shelter in one of Beijing's many fascinating museums. Whether you're into ancient history, imperial treasures, the history of the hutongs, or watermelons (more on that later), there's no shortage of impressive collections. You can head to some of the bigger, more famous museums like the Capital Museum (首都博物馆) or the National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆), or perhaps smaller places like the Dongsi Hutong Museum (东四胡同博物馆). If you're really looking for something different, though, why not visit a more niche place like the China Watermelon Museum (中国西瓜博物馆) (yes, that is a real place) or the Maotai Museum (茅台博物馆).
3. Curl Up in a Reading Café
There's nothing more soothing than a drink, dim lighting, and the sound of rain against the window. Across Beijing, you'll find quiet cafés designed for reading, journaling, or simply watching the rain fall outside. Look for spots with soft lighting, window seating, and plenty of nooks to curl up in. Any of Page One's numerous locations are sure to hit the spot, or you can try hutong cafes like Zarah.
4. Explore Galleries at 798 Art District or Caochangdi
Both 798 and its quieter sibling Caochangdi (草场地) are home to numerous art galleries that are great to explore on a rainy day. Plus, outdoor drizzle only enhances 798's industrial-chic vibes. You can spend hours hopping between thought-provoking exhibitions, browsing independent designer goods, and stopping for coffee in artsy cafés. In 798, Yanran Chen's first solo exhibition, “Neon Dreamland,” housed in ART FOCUS, is currently still showing, and for more exhibitions that will ending soon, you can check out this post.
5. Unwind at a Bar With Games and Good Vibes
If you are looking to have a few drinks but also want some entertainment on the side, then why not head to one of Beijing's many bars that also have a pool table, darts board, or a foosball table for a bit of friendly competition. Places like Spuds, Eudora Station, Pool Bar and The Corner Bistro have a mixture of two or all three, so you can enjoy switching between a few different games.
6. Catch a Movie at the Cinema
Rainy days were made for movie marathons – and Beijing has you covered. Catch the latest local or Hollywood blockbusters at cinemas like Megabox or UME, where you'll find comfy seating, snacks, and usually bilingual subtitles. For something more atmospheric, visit Cinker Pictures in Raffles Mall. This boutique cinema has VIP recliners, plush leather seats and footrests, plus cocktails, other alcoholic drinks and snacks. They even have some special hot pot screening rooms if you want a truly unique movie-going experience!
7. Shop Till You Drop at Indoor Markets and Malls
Beijing's indoor markets are perfect for rainy-day retail therapy. If you're in the mood for a bit of haggling and want some souvenirs or knock-off fashion, then you can't go wrong with the Pearl Market (红桥市场) or Silk Street (秀水街). For those who want to do some more straightforward shopping, just hit up one of Beijing's many, many malls. Big ones like Chaoyang Joy City also have an arcade, cinema and tons of restaurants, so there is plenty to keep you entertained for hours while you shelter from the rain!
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Images: Unsplash, courtesy of the venues, Uni You, the Beijingers
